WEBVTT HELD BY THE BROWARD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.>> SHORTLY BEFORE 1:00 P.M. TODAY WE HAD AN ACTIVE SHOOTER INSIDE TERMINAL TWO LOWER LEVEL BY BAGGAGE. THE ACTIVE SHOOTER SHOT AT LEAST13 PEOPLE.EIGHT PEOPLE ARE BEING TREATED. I DON'T KNOW THE DEGREE OF THEIRINJURIES. FIVE PEOPLE HAVE DIED AND TRAGICALLY ARE DEAD.WE ARE NOT RELEASING ANY INFORMATION ON ANY OF THE VICTIMS UNTIL WE IDENTIFY THEM WHICH IS GOING TO TAKE SOME TIMEAND RESPECTFULLY NOTIFY THE NEXTOF KIN FIRST. THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES.WE HAVE AREA SWAT TEAMS AND THE BROWARD COUNTYY SHERIFF'S OFFICECLEARING THE AIRPORT AND THE TEAMS WILL GIVE ME INFORMATION THAT IT IS SAFE.THIS SCENE IS FLUID AND ACTIVE. WE -- ONE OF THE MORE CRITICAL PIECES OF INFORMATION IS THAT WEHAVE THE SHOOTER IN CUSTODY.HE IS UNHARMED. NO LAW ENFORCEMENT FIRED ANY SHOTS.THE SUBJECT IS BEING INTERVIEWEDBY A TEAM OF F.B.I. AGENTS AND HOMICIDE DETECTIVES.THERE HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE COHESIVENESS AND COOPERATION BETWEEN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ANDLOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.WE'LL ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.WE'LL ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS AT THE END.I'M GOING TO PUT THE DIRECTOR OFTHE AIRPORT TO TELL YOU WHAT'S GOING ON AND YOU WILL HEAR FROM THE BUREAU AND I'LL COME BACK TOANSWER QUESTIONS. >> I'M HERE FOR THE DIRECTOR HERE AT THE FORT LAUDERDALE AIRPORT.WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED, WE SUSPENDED OPERATIONS AT THE AIRPORT AND WORKING TOGETHER WITH ALL THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TO ADDRESS ALL THE NEEDS AND CONCERNS OF THE PASSENGERS THAT ARE INSIDE THE BUILDING AND ON AIRPLANES RIGHT NOW.THEY ARE SHELTERED IN PLACE.WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THE AIRPORT WILL RE-OPEN. ALL THE OTHER AGENCIES BEFORE WEACTUALLY MOVE TO RE-OPEN UP THE AIRPORT.IN THE MEANTIME AS THE SHERIFF HAS INDICATED, WE ARE GOING TO GO STEP BY STEP THROUGH THE BUILDING. WE'LL KEEP EVERYBODY INFORMED ASBEST WE CAN THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIAAND WE'LL BE SETTING UP A HOTLINE FOR FAMILIES AND FRIENDSTHAT MAY BE LOOKING FOR FOLKS AND WE WILL PUBLISH THAT IN THE RELATIVELY NEAR FUTURE ON OUR WEBSITE AND THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA.THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR NOW.>> GOOD AFTERNOON, I'M THE SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE OF THE F.B.I.'S MIAMI FIELD OFFICE.THE F.B.I. IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE SUPPORTING6 C13>> WITNESS INTERVIEWS.AS WAS THE SUSPECT INTERVIEW.THE INVESTIGATION IS VERY EARLY.WE HAVE A LOT OF PRILLAMAN ORINFORMATION THAT WE ARE GOINGTHROUGH.AT THIS POINT, OUR GOAL IS TOACTIVELY SUPPORT THE SHERIFF'SOFFICE UNTIL WE GET ADETERMINATION ON THE NATURE ANDTHE MOTIVE OF THIS.>> WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT ASHOOTING AT TERMINAL ONE.WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?>> THERE HAS BEEN THE SHOOTINGAT ANY PLACE US BUT THEDOWNSTAIRS OF TERMINAL 2.THERE IS NO CAP OMISSION OF ANYSHOOTING.AT THIS POINT, AS I SPEAK, THEONLY GUNSHOTS FIRED AT ANYTIMEDURING THIS HORRIFIC INCIDENTWERE DOWNSTAIRS IN TERMINAL 2.>> WHAT HAPPENED AT TERMINALONE?>> IT SEEMS LIKE SOMEBODY ANINJURED AND EVACUATED.>> HE HEARD SHOTS DIRECTLYBEHIND HIM.>> WE HAD NO CONFIRMATION OFTHAT.WE HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENTPERSONNEL THROUGHOUT THEAIRPORT.NO LAW ENFORCEMENT AT THIS TIMEHAS CONFIRMED THAT THERE HASBEEN ANY GUNSHOT OTHER THAN WHATWAS FIRED AT TERMINAL 2.>> WE ALSO HEARD ZONE BEINGARRESTED.>> NOT IN THE SHOOTING ASPECT OFIT.WE ARE REVIEWING TAPES OFWHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE WASARRESTED, HE COULD HAVE BEEN FORA PLETHORA OF THINGS.NO ONE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN SECUREDIN HANDCUFFS UNTIL WE FOUND THATWITH A WERE AND WHAT THEY WEREAND HOW THEY WERE RELATED OR NOTRELATED TO THIS SCENARIO.I DON'T KNOW THEY WERE --PHYSICALLY ARRESTED OR NOT.IT HAPPENED AROUND THE BAGGAGEAREAS.ONE SUSPECT IN CUSTODY.WE ARE NOT LISTEN ANYINFORMATION ON IT.COURTS ARE YOU A DETAILED KINDOF WEAPON WAS USED?>> WE ARE NOT GOING TO COMMENTON THAT.>> WHEN WE APPREHEND HIM, THESUSPECT WAS ARRESTED WITHOUTINCIDENT.>> DID IT APPEAR THAT THESHOOTER WAS WAITING FOR SOMEBODYTO ARRIVE IN BAGGAGE AND THENAMBUSH THEM?-- AMBUSHED THEM.>> DELETE ON THE INVESTIGATIONIS WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.IF WE DO UNCOVERED SOMETIME,THIS -- IF WE DO UNCOVERED ATHIS WAS TERRORISTS, WE WILL BEASSISTING THE FBI AS WE MOVEFORWARD WITH THE INVESTIGATION.WHAT I WANT TO SAY THAT THIS ISNOT THE TIME FOR ANYBODY TO CALL911 ON THIS INCIDENT.WE ARE ALL OVER HERE.IF YOU HAVE A REAL EMERGENCY OFCOURSE.PLEASE KEEP THE 911 LINES OPEN.IF YOU NEED INFORMATION, YOU CANFOLLOW US ON TWITTER AT SHERIFF.>> TWITTER AT BROWARD SHERIFF.>> THERE DOES APPEAR TO BE ATERRORIST INDICATION AT ALL?>> IT IS TOO EARLY TO SAY EITHERWAY ON THAT.THAT IS WHAT IS GOING ON.>> WHERE PEOPLE COMING FROM?>> I DO KNOW WHAT LIFE BUT WEARE NOT RELEASING ANYINFORMATION ONTO IT CANPOSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE VICTIMSIN A RESPECTFUL AND DIGNIFIEDMATTER, NOTIFIED NEXT OF KIN.>> WE WILL NOT RELEASE IT.IT LOOKS LIKE HE ACTED ALONE.THERE IS NO SECOND ACTIVESHOOTER.THERE ARE NO VICTIMS SUFFERINGFROM GUNSHOT ONES.IT IS NOT CONFIRMED.WE ARE DEALING WITH THIS IS THERIGHT HERE.>> HE HAD GUNS DRAWN.>> I AM SURE THAT THEY WERELOOKING FOR PARKING LOTS TOCLEAR.WE HAVE A VARIETY OF SWAT TEAMSOUT CLEARING THE ENTIRE AIRPORTTO MAKE SURE IT IS SAFE.JUST DOING THEIR JOB AND WORKINGVERY HARD AND DILIGENTLY.>> ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON, HOW BUSYWAS THE AIRPORT?THIS IS THE BUSIEST IT WASDURING THE WAY?-- WEEK?>> THE AIRPORT IS ALWAYS BUSY.THE AIRPORTS ARE VERY FULL.OUR PASSENGERS ARE SHELTERED INPLACES WHERE WE ARE WORKING WITHLAW ENFORCEMENT TO GET THEMRELEASED SYSTEMATICALLY AS THESHERIFF HAS INDICATED.TERMINAL BY TERMINAL.>> DO KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ARESECURED ACROSS THE RUNWAYS?>> WE ACTUALLY HAVE EVERYBODYEITHER AT THE TERMINALS ARE WEHAVE HAD SOME AIRPLANES THATHAVE LANDED THAT WE STILL HAVEAIRPLANES WITH PEOPLE ON BOARDTHAT HAVE NOT BEEN BROUGHT INTOTHE TERMINAL BUILDING.IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THEY MAYACTUALLY DEPART AND MAY ACTUALLYNOT COME INTO THE TERMINALBUILDING.BUT ON ANY GIVEN DAY, WE AREHANDLING BETWEEN 80 AND 100,000PASSENGERS.>> WORKING WITH THE AIRLINES,SOME DECISIONS MAY BE MADE.IT HASN'T BEEN CONFIRMED YETTHAT THEY MAY ACTUALLY DEPARTFOR OTHER CITIES.WE ARE GOING THROUGH THETERMINALS VERY SLOWLY ANDMETHODICALLY TO MAKE SURE THATEVERYTHING IS CLEAR BEFORE WEMAKE DECISIONS ABOUT RELEASINGADDITIONAL PASSENGERS ENTER THEBUILDING ON TOP OF THOSE THATHAD ARTIE BEEN IN THE FACILITY.>> I DON'T HAVE THATINFORMATION.TYPICALLY, AND A BAGGAGE CLAIM,THERE CAN BE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLEAT ANY ONE TIME.BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NUMBERWAS AT THAT PARTICULAR MOMENT INTIME.>> WHERE CAN PASSENGERS GET THATINFORMATION?>> WE ARE GOING TO PUTINFORMATION OUT ON HER WEBSITEAND ON TWITTER AT AT LL FLYER.>> WHEN DID THE SHOOTING BEGANAND HOW LONG WAS A SHOOTERINSIDE.>> IT HAPPENED JUST BEFORE 1:00,WE ARE NOT GOING TO GIVE OUT ANYSPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT THELOGISTICS AND AS I SAID BEFORE,SHORTLY THEREAFTER.ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTERTHE SHOOTINGS.>> HE WAS APPREHENDED BY A BROWNSHERIFF'S DEPUTY AND HE WASTAKEN INTO CUSTODY WITHOUTINCIDENT.>> DID HE CHECKED HIS WEAPONINTO LUGGAGE?>> THAT IS PART OF AN ONGOINGINVESTIGATION.>> YOU LAID HIS GUN DOWN ON THESHOOTING ON THE FLOOR.>> I HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO THAT.THE GUNMAN IS IN CUSTODY.HE'S BEING INTERVIEWED BY A TEAMOF FBI AGENTS AND SHERIFF'SDEPUTIES.THEY ARE TRYING TO ESTABLISHMOTIVE AS THE INVESTIGATIONCONTINUES.THEY WILL MAKE A DECISION AS TOWHO TAKES THE LEAD ON THISCONTINUING INVESTIGATION.>> DID ANY OF THEM FIRE THEIRWEAPONS AT THIS PARKING GARAGE?>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU HEARD.THERE IS NO CONFIRMATION OF ANYTYPE OF GUNSHOT ANYWHERE BUT ATTHE TIME OF THIS HORRIFIC, EPICINCIDENT.>> WAS A GUNMAN A PAST AIRLINEPASSENGER?>> I BELIEVE I KNOW THATINFORMATION BUT I CAN'T RELEASEIT AT THIS TIME.>> CAN YOU SAY WHERE HE IS BEINGINTERROGATED?>> WHERE HE IS RIGHT NOW, I AMNOT SURE.>> LIE WITH THE AIRPORT BECAUSEAFTER THE FIRST PERSON WASARRESTED AND BEING INTERROGATED?WHY THE SHUTDOWN -- WHY SHUT THEAIRPORT?>> WE NEED TO CLEAR THE AIRPORT,IT IS A COMMON SENSE APPROACH,MY CONCERN RIGHT NOW NOT ONLYWITH THE FAMILIES AND THOSE LOSTHIS WITH THE CITIZENS OF BROWARDCOUNTY.IT IS MYSELF AND THE FBI, WENEED TO BELIEVE THAT THISAIRPORT IS A SAFE PLACE.UNTIL THEN, IT WILL BE OPENED.>> HOW MANY DEPUTIES ARE AT THEAIRPORT AT THE TIME OF THESHOOTING?

US veteran arrested in airport shooting that left 5 dead

Suspect was an airplane passenger who landed in Fort Lauderdale

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Updated: 3:06 PM EST Jan 7, 2017

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. —

An arriving airline passenger with a gun in his luggage opened fire in the baggage claim area at the Fort Lauderdale airport Friday, killing five people and wounding eight, authorities said.

The shooter, who complained that the government was controlling his mind, was an Army National Guard veteran who served in Iraq, authorities said. Police identified him as 26-year-old Esteban Santiago, of Anchorage, Alaska.

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After he retrieved the firearm, he began shooting indiscriminately, Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said. He described the incident as a "cowardly, heinous act."

He was immediately taken into custody.

The attack sent panicked passengers running out of the terminal and onto the tarmac, baggage in hand, and forced the shutdown of the entire airport.

Wilfredo Lee, AP

Law enforcement personnel stand outside a garage area at Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport, Friday, Jan. 6, 2017, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. A gunman opened fire in the baggage claim area at the airport Friday, killing several people and wounding others before being taken into custody in an attack that sent panicked passengers running out of the terminal and onto the tarmac, authorities said.

Besides the eight people initially injured, 37 other people also were hurt after the incident, according to the Broward County Sheriff's Office. Israel said those injuries ranged from falls to sprains.

The attack took place at Terminal 2 after he got off a Delta flight, Israel said. After the shooting, he threw his weapon down and lay spread-eagle on the ground, authorities and witnesses said.

"People were extremely emotional, crying, horrified," said Constance McIntyre, 53, who hid in a bathroom stall during reports of a possible second shooting. "I didn't even know if it was a safe place. You feel so vulnerable there. It was stressful and terrifying."

Thousands of travelers and others at the airport were kept on lockdown for more than six hours.

People spilled onto the tarmac, some carrying luggage, and some ran from both Terminals 1 and 2, hiding behind cars or anything else they could find to shield themselves.

The airport suspended operations as law enforcement authorities rushed to the scene and emergency medical workers treated the bleeding victims. Fort Lauderdale-bound flights already in the air were delayed or diverted, and those that had yet to take off from the airport were held on the ground.

At least one person appeared to be lying in a pool of blood with a head wound.

Israel, the sheriff, said the gunman was arrested unharmed, with no law enforcement officers firing any shots, and was questioned by the FBI and sheriff's deputies.

Wilfredo Lee, AP

People take cover outside Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport, Friday, Jan. 6, 2017, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., after a shooter opened fire inside a terminal of the airport, killing several people and wounding others before being taken into custody.

Authorities said the motive was under investigation.

"This could well be someone who is mentally deranged, or in fact it could be someone who had a much more sinister motive that we have to worry about every day, and that is terrorism," said Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida. "We can't conclude that."

Santiago arrived in Fort Lauderdale after taking off from Anchorage aboard a Delta flight Thursday night, checking only one piece of luggage — his gun, said Jesse Davis, police chief at the Anchorage airport.

It is legal for airline passengers to travel with guns and ammunition as long as the firearms are put in a checked bag — not a carry-on — and are unloaded and locked in a hard-sided container. Guns must be declared to the airline at check-in.

Chip LaMarca, a Broward County commissioner who was briefed on the attack by the sheriff's office, told The Associated Press that the shooter had arrived aboard a flight with a gun in a checked bag.

"After he claimed his bag, he went into the bathroom and loaded the gun and started shooting. We don't know why," LaMarca said.

Bruce Hugon, who had flown in from Indianapolis for a vacation, was at the baggage carousel when he heard four or five pops and saw everyone drop down on the ground. He said a woman next to him tried to get up and was shot in the head.

"The guy must have been standing over me at one point. I could smell the gunpowder," he said. "I thought I was about to feel a piercing pain or nothing at all because I would have been dead."

The bloodshed is likely to raise questions of whether aviation safety officials need to change the rules.

The attack also exposed another weak point in airport security: While travelers have to take off their shoes, put their carry-on luggage through X-ray machines and pass through metal detectors to reach the gates, many other sections of airports, such as ticket counters and baggage claim areas, are more lightly secured and more vulnerable to attack.

In 2013, a gunman with a grudge against the Transportation Security Administration shot and killed one of the agency's screeners and wounded three others during a rampage at Los Angeles International Airport. Last November, an airline worker was shot and killed near an employee parking lot at Oklahoma City's airport, and in 2015 a machete-wielding man was shot to death after he attacked federal security officers at the New Orleans airport.

Santiago's brother, Bryan, told The Associated Press that his brother had been receiving psychological treatment in Alaska. He said Santiago's girlfriend alerted the family to the situation in recent months.

Bryan Santiago said that he didn't know what his brother was being treated for and that they never talked about it over the telephone.

He said Esteban Santiago was born in New Jersey but moved to Puerto Rico when he was 2. He was deployed to Iraq in 2010 and spent a year there with the 130th Engineer Battalion, according to Puerto Rico National Guard spokesman Maj. Paul Dahlen.

At the Fort Lauderdale airport, John Schilcher told Fox News said he came up to the baggage claim and heard the first gunshot as he picked up his bag off a carousel.

"The person next to me fell to the ground and then I started hearing other pops. And as this happened, other people started falling and you could hear it and smell it, and people on either side of me were going down and I just dropped to the ground," said Schilcher, who was there with his wife and mother-in-law. "The firing just went on and on."

"I was down on the floor. When we finally looked up there was a policeman standing over me," he said. "That's when I assumed it was safe."

The airport was shut down, with incoming flights diverted and outgoing flights held on the ground. Airport Director Mark Gale said 10,000 of the airport's stranded travelers were being bused overnight to the city's spacious Port Everglades cruise ship terminal.

President Barack Obama was briefed by his Homeland Security adviser, the White House said. President-elect Donald Trump said that it is a "disgraceful situation that's happening in our country and throughout the world" and that it was too soon to say whether it was a terrorist attack.